Propulsion and steering device for small boats

ABSTRACT

A kit that can be installed in a small boat for providing a novel means for propelling and steering the boat, the device incorporating a hydraulic propulsion assembly, a jet assembly and a steering cable assembly controlled by a steering wheel, and wherein the steering and the power is in one element.

United States Patent Hansson Mar. 7, 1972 PROPULSION AND STEERING DEVICE FOR SMALL BOATS Filed: Apr. 15, 1970 Appl. No.: 28,852

U.S.Cl. ..ll5/l2R Int. Cl

Field OfSeal'Ch ..1 15/12 R, 70, 32, 6.1; 60/221 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,154,046 10/1964 McLean 3,487,806 l/1970 Chiu ..ll5/70 Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix [5 7] ABSTRACT A kit that can be installed in a small boat for providing a novel means for propelling and steering the boat, the device incorporating a hydraulic propulsion assembly, a jet assembly and a steering cable assembly controlled by a steering wheel, and

" wherein the steering and the power is in one element.

5 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figures PROPULSION AND STEERING DEVICE FOR SMALL BOATS This invention relates generally to small boats. More specifically propulsion devices and steering devices for small boats.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple device in kit form for installation in any small boat that is normally propelled by oars, paddles, or other manual means and which comprises an improved propulsion means therefor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which incorporates the propulsion and steering of a small boat and wherein the steering and the power are combined in one element.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a propulsion and steering device for small boats that is applicable to any boat and which requires no hull modifications other than inlet and outlet through hull fittings.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a propulsion and steering device for small boats which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a hydraulic propulsion assembly of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a jet assembly of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the steering cable assembly,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the steering wheel,

FIG. 5 is a face view thereof,

FIG. 6 is a side view of the operating lever,

FIG. 7 is a front view thereof,

FIG. 8 is an end view thereof,

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the propulsion assembly,

FIG. 10 is a side view of the rope transmission,

FIG. 11 is a front view thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference number 10 represents a propulsion and steering device for small boats according to the present invention, wherein the same may be provided in the form of a kit and which is installed in a small boat 11, shown in FIG. 3 ofthe drawing Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3 and 9 at this time, the present invention is shown to incorporate a hydraulic propulsion assembly 12. The hydraulic propulsion assembly includes a housing 13 comprised of a base castings l4 and a cover casting 15 sunnounted thereupon and secured by means of bolts 16 secured by nuts 17 passed through flanges l8 and 19 of the base and cover castings respectively. A fabricated rubber cell 20 is enclosed within a chamber 21 formed under the cover casting l5 and which is shown in full open position in FIG. 1. It is held in this position by a bellcrank that forms a part of the propulsion lever not shown. In motion, the bellcrank depresses or collapses the rubber cell by means of a compression plate 22 with its integrally attached link to the bellcrank, shown at 23, thus driving water through a check valve 23 and the piping 24, and by the suitable conduit to inlet 25 in the jet assembly 26 shown in FIG. 2.

On the return or suction stroke of the cell 20, the upper half is held in place by the circular plate 27, that is attached to the compression plate 22 by means of screws, thus sealing and attaching the upper half of the rubber cell 20.

The lower half of the cell is held in place by a fitting 28 which is also fastened by screws through the fabric, and into the base plate casting 14. A pipe 29 leads from the water suction through the check valve 30 and the piping leading to the rubber cell 20.

Two circular rings 31 seal and hold the two rubber halves together at the periphery thereof. This is necessary to prevent the cell from collapsing on the suction stroke. It is to be understood that the two halves of the rubber cell will be of such thickness and strength as to prevent collapse during the suction stroke, and will therefore be molded in the approximate shape indicated in the drawing.

The jet assembly 26 includes a main body 32 having a hollow chamber 33 there within and through which there extends a shaft 34, the lower end of the shaft 34 being integral with a rotatable jet nozzle 35 while the upper end of the shaft 34 is affixed with a pulley 36. Thus the numbers 34, 35 and 36 are integral mechanically locked together with one moving part.

Water received at inlet 25 from the propelling unit shown in FIG. 1, is discharged through the jet outlet 37. A vertical support is provided at 38 and a lateral support is provided at 39. The main body 32 is provided with flanges 40 secured by means of bolts 41 and nuts 42 through a supporting flooring 43. It is to be noted that the jet nozzle is tapered externally so to meet the expanding internal surface of the nozzle as fine as mechanically practical. The flooring 43 comprises the hull bottom.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawing, a more or less conventional type of steering cable assembly 44 is shown and which is here illustrated to contain certain essential items. Because the cable is mechanically locked to the jet assembly spool, and the steering wheel spool, cable stop balls are provided at 45 and 46. A fixed ring 47 is provided through which the cable 48 passes but which will not pass the stop balls 45 and 46. Sheaves 49 serve as fair leads for the cables coming down from the steering and propelling column, and also serve to reverse the steering cable so that the ejection nozzle 35 will coordinate with the directions indicated on the steering wheel 50. A turn buckle 51 and a tension 52 are provided, the tension comprising a spring, these items being common for a takeup in a conventional steering cable system.

The steering wheel 50 comprises a circular member of conventional type having circular rim 53 connected by a radially extending spoke 54 to a central hub 55. Directional words 56 are engraved upon the rim as indicated in FIG. 5. These markings guide the operator.

In FIGS. 6 to 8, an operating lever 57 and storage are illustrated. FIG. 6 shows a profile of the operating lever, FIG. 7 shows a front view thereof and FIG. 8 is presented to show how by removing the pin on which the operating lever rocks and allows the operating lever to be stowed when not in operative use. In this position, the entire assembly shall not be higher than the shear line of the boat in which it is installed. The Figures illustrate the course of the cable 48 around the pulleys 58 and 59 mounted on shaft 60 supported on the lower end of the operating lever 57. This cable is also passed around a drum 61 mounted on shaft 62 that comprises a boat to which the steering wheel 50 is locked.

Referring now back to FIG. 2, it is to be noted that the location of the cable locking device 63 is situated in relation to the steering cables the entire spool assembly being degrees off in relation to the direction of the jet nozzle.

It is to be noted that the terminal end of the right-angle extending portion of the operation lever is provided with a bearing 64 engaging a pin 65 fitted through the member 22 of the hydraulic propulsion assembly, the right-angle arm 66 of the operating lever extending upwardly out of slots 67 in the cover casting 15 of the housing, and a bearing 68 on the operating lever being pivotally about a pin 69 supported in a bracket 70 mounted upon the upper side of the covered casting 15.

What I now claim is:

1. In a propulsion and steering device for small boats, the combination of a hydraulic propulsion assembly, a jet assembly driven by said hydraulic propulsion assembly, a manually operated lever activating said hydraulic propulsion assembly, said operating lever supporting a steering wheel, said steering wheel operating a steering cable assembly, said propulsion and steering device being in kit form for being installed within a small boat, said hydraulic propulsion assembly comprising a base casting and a cover casting together forming a housing, said base casting being mounted upon a floor of a boat hull, said upper casting enclosing a chamber containing an inflatable cell, said cell being comprised of a pair of fabricated rubber panels enjoined together along their peripheral edges, a fitting being centrally secured through a lower of said rubber panels, said fitting having an opening therethrough for allowing movement of water into an outward of said cell, a plate being positioned over an upper of said panels of said cell, means for enjoining securely said plate to a center of said cell panel, said plate having an upward extending lug secured to an upper side thereof, said lug extending upwardly through a slot or opening in an upper side of said cover casting of said housing, and the upper end of said lug being vertically activated by said operating lever connected pivotally thereto. connected pivotally thereto.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fitting is connected to a pipe assembly communicating between a water inlet through said hull and said jet assembly, said pipe assembly including a one-way value between said fitting and said water inlet so to permit movement of said water from said inlet to said fitting and into said cell, and said piping assembly further including a second one-way valve between said fitting and said jet assembly, said second oneway valve permitting flow of said water from said fitting to said jet assembly.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said jet assembly comprises a housing rigidly mounted upon a floor of said boat, a vertically extending shaft extending centrally through said housing, a lower end of said shaft being integral with a generally L-shaped nozzle rotatable about the lower end of said housing, and an upper end of said shaft extending outwardly of the upper end of said housing and being surmounted by a cable pulley secured thereto.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein a cable secured to said pulley of said jet assembly comprises an element of said steering cable assembly, said steering cable assembly further including extending in a circuit around a plurality of pulleys secured to said boat, said cable circuit including a turn buckle and a tension spring therein for taking up slack in said cable passed around said pulley, said cable further including a pair of spaced apart stop balls affixed thereto, a portion of said cable between said stop balls being inserted through a ring member secured affixed to said hull and providing a means for limiting a distance of movement of said cable, and said cable being passed around a pair of pulleys mounted upon a common shaft carried by said operating lever and mounted at a lower portion thereof, said cable extending therefrom around a drum secured to a steering wheel mounted rotatably free upon an upper end of said operating lever.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said operating lever comprises an L-configurated member having a vertically extending leg and a horizontally extending leg at right angles relative to each other, a corner between said legs being mounted pivotally free upon a pin supported in a bracket mounted upon the upper side of said cover casting, a terminal end offset horizontal leg being mounted pivotally free on a pin mounted upon the upper end of said lug extending upwardly out of said slot in the upper side of said cover casting, and the upper end of said vertically extending leg of said operating lever supporting rotatably free said steering wheel and said drum. 

1. In a propulsion and steering device for small boats, the combination of a hydraulic propulsion assembly, a jet assembly driven by said hydraulic propulsion assembly, a manually operated lever activating said hydraulic propulsion assembly, said operating lever supporting a steering wheel, said steering wheel operating a steering cable assembly, said propulsion and steering device being in kit form for being installed within a small boat, said hydraulic propulsion assembly comprising a base casting and a cover casting together forming a housing, said base casting being mounted upon a floor of a boat hull, said upper casting enclosing a chamber containing an inflatable cell, said cell being comprised of a pair of fabricated rubber panels enjoined together along their peripheral edges, a fitting being centrally secured through a lower of said rubber panels, said fitting having an opening therethrough for allowing movement of water into an outward of said cell, a plate being positioned over an upper of said panels of said cell, means for enjoining securely said plate to a center of said cell panel, said plate having an upward extending lug secured to an upper side thereof, said lug extending upwardly through a slot or opening in an upper side of said cover casting of said housing, and the upper end of said lug being vertically activated by said operating lever connected pivotally thereto. connected pivotally thereto.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fitting is connected to a pipe assembly communicating between a water inlet through said hull and said jet assembly, said pipe assembly including a one-way value between said fitting and said water inlet so to permit movement of said water from said inlet to said fitting and into said cell, and said piping assembly further including a second one-way valve between said fitting and said jet assembly, said second one-way valve permitting flow of said water from said fitting to said jet assembly.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said jet assembly comprises a housing rigidly mounted upon a floor of said boat, a vertically extending shaft extending centrally through said housing, a lower end of said shaft being integral with a generally L-shaped nozzle rotatable about the lower end of said housing, and an upper end of said shaft extending outwardly of the upper end of said housing and being surmounted by a cable pulley secured thereto.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein a cable secured to said pulley of said jet assembly comprises an element of said steering cable assembly, said steering cable assembly further including extending in a circuit around a plurality of pulleys secured to said boat, said cable circuit including a turn buckle and a tension spring therein for taking up slack in said cable passed around said pulley, said cable further including a pair of spaced apart stop balls affixed thereto, a portion of said cable between said stop balls being inserted through a ring member secured affixed to said hull and providing a means for limiting a distance of movement of said cable, and said cable being passed around a pair of pulleys mounted upon a common shaft carried by said operating lever and mounted at a lower portion thereof, said cable extending therefrom around a drum secured to a steering wheel mounted rotatably free upon an upper end of said operating lever.
 5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said operating lever comprises an L-configurated member having a vertically extending leg and a horizontally extending leg at right angles relative to each other, a corner between said legs being mounted pivotally free upon a pin supported in a bracket mounted upon the upper side of said cover casting, a terminal end offset horizontal leg being mounted pivotally free on a pin mounted upon the upper end of said lug extending upwardly out of sAid slot in the upper side of said cover casting, and the upper end of said vertically extending leg of said operating lever supporting rotatably free said steering wheel and said drum. 